Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781419740169)

In Priya Huq's middle-grade graphic novel Piece by Piece, Nisrin will have to rely on faith, friends, and family to help her recover after she is the target of a hate crime

Nisrin is a 13-year-old Bangladeshi American girl living in Milwaukie, Oregon, in 2002. As she nears the end of eighth grade, she gives a presentation for World Culture Day about Bangladesh while wearing a traditional cultural dress. On her way home, she is the victim of a hate crime when a man violently attacks her for wearing a headscarf.

Deeply traumatized by the experience, Nisrin spends the summer depressed and isolated. Other than weekly therapy, Nisrin doesn't leave the house until fall arrives and it's time for her to start freshman year at a new school. The night before class starts, Nisrin makes a decision. She tells her family she's going to start wearing hijab, much to their dismay. Her mother and grandparent's shocked and angry reactions confuse her--but they only strengthen her resolve.

This choice puts Nisrin on a path to not only discover more about Islam but also her family's complicated relationship with the religion and the reasons they left Bangladesh in the first place. On top of everything else, she's struggling to fit in at school--her hijab makes her a target for students and faculty alike. But with the help from old friends and new, Nisrin is starting to figure out what really makes her happy.

Piece by Piece is an original graphic novel about growing up and choosing your own path, even if it leads you to a different place than you expected.

Author: Priya Huq
ISBN-10: 1419740164
ISBN-13: 9781419740169
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Language: English
Published: 11/16/2021
Pages: 224
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.52lbs
Size: 8.68h x 6.39w x 1.11d

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.1
Point Value: 1
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 516509 / Piece by Piece: The Story of Nisrin's Hijab


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2021
Booklist 09/15/2021 pg. 40
School Library Journal 09/17/2021 pg. 1